Éxodo 13

1 Entonces el SEÑOR habló a Moisés, diciendo:

2 Conságrame todo primogénito; el primer nacido de toda matriz entre los hijos de Israel, tanto de hombre como de animal, me pertenece.

3 Y Moisés dijo al pueblo: Acordaos de este día en que salisteis de Egipto, de la casa de esclavitud, pues el SEÑOR os ha sacado de este lugar con mano poderosa. No comeréis en él nada leudado.

4 Vais a salir hoy, en el mes de Abib.

5 Y será que cuando el SEÑOR te lleve a la tierra del cananeo, del heteo, del amorreo, del heveo y del jebuseo, la cual juró a tus padres que te daría, tierra que mana leche y miel, celebrarás esta ceremonia en este mes.

6 Por siete días comerás pan sin levadura, y en el séptimo día habrá fiesta solemne al SEÑOR.

7 Se comerá pan sin levadura durante los siete días; y nada leudado se verá contigo, ni levadura alguna se verá en todo tu territorio.

8 Y lo harás saber a tu hijo en aquel día, diciendo: "Esto es con motivo de lo que el SEÑOR hizo por mí cuando salí de Egipto."

9 Y te será como una señal en tu mano, y como un recordatorio en tu frente, para que la ley del SEÑOR esté en tu boca; porque con mano fuerte te sacó el SEÑOR de Egipto.

10 Guardarás, pues, esta ordenanza a su debido tiempo de año en año.

11 Y sucederá que cuando el SEÑOR te lleve a la tierra del cananeo, como te juró a ti y a tus padres, y te la dé,

12 dedicarás al SEÑOR todo primer nacido de la matriz. También todo primer nacido del ganado que poseas; los machos pertenecen al SEÑOR.

13 Pero todo primer nacido de asno, lo redimirás con un cordero; mas si no lo redimes, quebrarás su cerviz; y todo primogénito de hombre de entre tus hijos, lo redimirás.

14 Y será que cuando tu hijo te pregunte el día de mañana, diciendo: "¿Qué es esto?", le dirás: "Con mano fuerte nos sacó el SEÑOR de Egipto, de la casa de servidumbre.

15 "Y aconteció que cuando Faraón se obstinó en no dejarnos ir, el SEÑOR mató a todo primogénito en la tierra de Egipto, desde el primogénito del hombre hasta el primogénito de los animales. Por esta causa yo sacrifico al SEÑOR los machos, todo primer nacido de la matriz, pero redimo a todo primogénito de mis hijos."

16 Será, pues, como una señal en tu mano y como insignias entre tus ojos; porque con mano fuerte nos sacó el SEÑOR de Egipto.

17 Y sucedió que cuando Faraón dejó ir al pueblo, Dios no los guió por el camino de la tierra de los filisteos, aunque estaba cerca, porque dijo Dios: No sea que el pueblo se arrepienta cuando vea guerra y se vuelva a Egipto.

18 Dios, pues, hizo que el pueblo diera un rodeo por el camino del desierto, hacia el mar Rojo; y en orden de batalla subieron los hijos de Israel de la tierra de Egipto.

19 Y Moisés tomó consigo los huesos de José, pues éste había hecho jurar solemnemente a los hijos de Israel, diciendo: Ciertamente os visitará Dios, y entonces llevaréis de aquí mis huesos con vosotros.

20 Y partieron de Sucot y acamparon en Etam, al borde del desierto.

21 El SEÑOR iba delante de ellos, de día en una columna de nube para guiarlos por el camino, y de noche en una columna de fuego para alumbrarlos, a fin de que anduvieran de día y de noche.

22 No quitó de delante del pueblo la columna de nube durante el día, ni la columna de fuego durante la noche.

Éxodo 13 Commentary

Chapter 13

The first-born sanctified to God The remembrance of the passover commanded. (1-10) The firstlings of beasts set apart. (11-16) Joseph's bones carried with the Israelites, They come to Etham. (17-20) God guideth the Israelites by a pillar of cloud fire. (21,22)

Verses 1-10 In remembrance of the destruction of the first-born of Egypt, both of man and of beast, and the deliverance of the Israelites out of bondage, the first-born males of the Israelites were set apart to the Lord. By this was set before them, that their lives were preserved through the ransom of the atonement, which in due time was to be made for sin. They were also to consider their lives, thus ransomed from death, as now to be consecrated to the service of God. The parents were not to look upon themselves as having any right in their first-born, till they solemnly presented them to God, and allowed his title to them. That which is, by special mercy, spared to us, should be applied to God's honour; at least, some grateful acknowledgment, in works of piety and charity, should be made. The remembrance of their coming out of Egypt must be kept up every year. The day of Christ's resurrection is to be remembered, for in it we were raised up with Christ out of death's house of bondage. The Scripture tells us not expressly what day of the year Christ rose, but it states particularly what day of the week it was; as the more valuable deliverance, it should be remembered weekly. The Israelites must keep the feast of unleavened bread. Under the gospel, we must not only remember Christ, but observe his holy supper. Do this in remembrance of him. Also care must be taken to teach children the knowledge of God. Here is an old law for catechising. It is of great use to acquaint children betimes with the histories of the Bible. And those who have God's law in their heart should have it in their mouth, and often speak of it, to affect themselves, and to teach others.

Verses 11-16 The firstlings of beast not used in sacrifice, were to be changed for others so used, or they were to be destroyed. Our souls are forfeited to God's justice, and unless ransomed by the sacrifice of Christ, will certainly perish. These institutions would continually remind them of their duty, to love and serve the Lord. In like manner, baptism and the Lord's supper, if explained and attended to, would remind us, and give us occasion to remind one another of our profession and duty.

Verses 17-20 There were two ways from Egypt to Canaan. One was only a few days' journey; the other was much further about, through the wilderness, and that was the way in which God chose to lead his people Israel. The Egyptians were to be drowned in the Red sea; the Israelites were to be humbled and proved in the wilderness. God's way is the right way, though it seems about. If we think he leads not his people the nearest way, yet we may be sure he leads them the best way, and so it will appear when we come to our journey's end. The Philistines were powerful enemies; it was needful that the Israelites should be prepared for the wars of Canaan, by passing through the difficulties of the wilderness. Thus God proportions his people's trials to their strength, 1Co. 10:13 . They went up in good order. They went up in five in a rank, some; in five bands, so others, which it seems rather to their faith and hope, that God would bring them to Canaan, in expectation of which they carried these bones with them while in the desert.

Verses 21-22 The Lord went before them in a pillar, or appearance of the Divine Majesty. Christ was with the church in the ( 1 Corinthians. 10:13 ) he will not leave nor lose there, but will take care to lead them through it. It was great satisfaction to Moses and the pious Israelites, to be sure that they were under Divine guidance. Those who make the glory of God their end, and the word of God their rule, the Spirit of God the guide of their affections, and the providence of God the guide of their affairs, may be sure that the Lord goes before them, though they cannot see it with their eyes: we must now live by faith. When Israel marched, this pillar went before, and pointed out the place of encampment, as Divine Wisdom saw fit. It sheltered by day from the heat, and gave light by night. The Bible is a light to our feet, a lantern to our paths, with which the Saviour's love has provided us. It testifies of Christ. It is to us like the pillar to the Israelites. Listen to that voice which cries, I am the Light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the Light of life, ( John 8:12 ) . Jesus Christ alone, as shown in the Bible, and as the Holy Spirit, in answer to prayer, recommends him to the soul, is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, ( John 14:6 ) .

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 13

This chapter begins with an order to sanctify or set apart the firstborn of man and beast to the Lord, Ex 13:1,2 and the people of Israel are charged to keep the feast of unleavened bread in its season, from year to year, when they came into the land of Canaan, the reason of which they were to acquaint their children with, Ex 13:3-10 and they are also directed, when come into the land of Canaan, to set apart every firstling of a beast unto the Lord, and particularly the firstling of an ass was to be redeemed with a lamb, or its neck to be broke, and all the firstborn of men were to be redeemed also, Ex 13:11-13, and when their children inquired the reason of it, they were to be told it was on account of the Lord's slaying the firstborn of men and beast among the Egyptians, when Pharaoh would not let Israel go, and of saving the firstborn of his people, Ex 13:14-16, and it is observed, that when the children of Israel went out of Egypt, they were not led by the nearest way, the way of the land of the Philistines, but a round about way, the way of the wilderness of the Red sea, when they took the bones of Joseph with them, as he had adjured them to do, Ex 13:17-19, and the chapter is concluded with an account of their journeying from Succoth to Etham, the Lord going before them in a pillar of cloud by day, and in a pillar of fire by night, Ex 13:20-22.